By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
For the month of November, The Last Unicorn is touring the Pacific Northwest. According to Locus magazine. the book by Peter S. Beagle is ranked number 5 in the list of all-time best fantasy novels, and the animated feature was produced by the same team who created The Hobbit back in 78′. Rankin Bass Productions is a highly respected animation house who have produced many a great holiday special, ranging from stop motion to cel, and to see this classic remastered and playing on the big screen as a 2K Digital Cinema Print will no doubt be a delight to many enthusiasts, young and old.
This story is about self discovery and overcoming insurmountable odds. When the mythic quest is to find out if this unicorn is truly the last of her kind, the plot goes into territory which can be scary. A Picasso-esque style influence is what makes this animated version enduring, and the story is wholly magical in its own unique way. Mia Farrow provides the voice for the title character. To name more than a few, other talents include Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Robert Klein, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Lee and René Auberjonois.
There will be a pre-show at this film’s many stops. Author Peter S. Beagle will be in attendance and according to the tour website, an hour will be dedicated for him for Q&A and perhaps to sign autographs.
Dates are as follows:
November 15, The Garland Theater in Spokane, WA
November 16, The Seattle Cinerama in Seattle, WA
November 17, The Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA
November 19, The Colossus Langley Cinemas in Langley, BC
November 20, The Silvercity Riverport Cinemas in Richmond, BC
November 21, The Bijou Art Cinemas in Eugene, OR
November 23, The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR
November 25, The Varsity Theatre in Ashland, OR
November 26, The Tower Theatre in Sacramento, CA
Tickets can be bought in advance at The Last Unicorn’s Screen Tour website.
